Furniture Cooler Combination Device

ABSTRACT

A furniture cooler combination device facilitates discrete storage of items in a cooler positioned on a deck, porch, or in a sitting area. The device includes a box positioned beneath a lid. The insulated box has a bottom wall and a peripheral wall coupled to and extending up from the bottom wall. A distal edge of the peripheral wall relative to the bottom wall defines an open top of the box. An exterior surface of the peripheral wall is structured to resemble a plurality of legs and panels. Each panel has an outer face inset relative an associated outside face of each of the legs wherein the exterior surface is configured to resemble furniture.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part and I hereby claim thebenefit under 35 U.S.C., Section 120 of U.S. application Ser. No.16/445,422 filed Jun. 19, 2019.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to bench and cooler devices and more particularlypertains to a new bench and cooler device for facilitating discretestorage of items in a cooler positioned on a deck, porch, or in asitting area.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to bench and cooler devices. However, the benchand cooler devices known provide a cooler having a seating surface orprovide a seat having an outward appearance clearly including orrevealing the presence of a cooler.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a box positioned beneath a lid. The insulated boxhas a bottom wall and a peripheral wall coupled to and extending up fromthe bottom wall. A distal edge of the peripheral wall relative to thebottom wall defines an open top of the box. An exterior surface of theperipheral wall is structured to resemble a plurality of legs andpanels. Each panel has an outer face inset relative an associatedoutside face of each of the legs wherein the exterior surface isconfigured to resemble furniture.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a furniture coolercombination device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a detailed partial top front side perspective view of anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a detailed partial top front side perspective view of anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a detailed partial top front side perspective view of anembodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through5 thereof, a new bench and cooler devices embodying the principles andconcepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated bythe reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the furniture coolercombination device 10 generally comprises a lid 12 having opposedlateral ends 14. The lid 12 has an upper surface 16 extending betweenthe opposed lateral ends 14. The lid 12 is constructed of an insulatingmaterial such as foam, Styrofoam, gel, or the like. The upper surface 16of the lid 12 is structured to resemble a plurality of parallel planks18 extending perpendicularly between the opposed lateral ends 14 of thelid 12 to resemble a table or bench top. This can be achieved throughthe connection of separate pieces to an underlying frame 20 or by anintegral piece having cutouts or grooves providing the desiredappearance.

A box 22 is positioned beneath the lid 12. The box 22 is insulated asdescribed below. The box 22 has a bottom wall 24 and a peripheral wall26 coupled to and extending up from the bottom wall 24. A distal edge 28of the peripheral wall 26 relative to the bottom wall 24 defines an opentop 30 of the box 22. An exterior surface 32 of the peripheral wall 26is structured to resemble a plurality of legs 34 and panels 36. This maybe legs 34 positioned at each of four corners of the box 22 as would beunderstandable to one of ordinary skill in the art, or may be a pair ofthe legs 34 positioned at front corners of the box 22. Each of thepanels 36 may be coupled to and extend between an associated pair of thelegs 34. When only two legs 34 are provided, a front panel 36A extendsbetween an associated pair of the legs 34 while lateral panels 36Bextend rearwardly from an associated one of the legs 34. Each of thelegs 34 may be positioned at a respective corner 38 of the box 22 suchthat each leg 34 has a pair of outside faces 40. Each panel 36 has anouter face 42 inset relative an associated one of the outside faces 40of each of the associated pair of legs 34. Thus, the exterior surface 32is configured to resemble furniture, particularly a table or bench. Theouter face 42 of each panel 36 is continuous and planar. The outersurface 42 may also be a color, colors, or pattern to either match orcontrast with the legs 34 enhancing the appearance for aesthetics or topromote visual presentation that the device 10 is a conventional standalone piece of furniture.

The lid 12 is coupled to and pivotable relative to the box 22 whereinthe lid 12 is positionable to selectively cover the open top 30 of thebox 22. The box 22 has an interior shell 50 spaced inwardly from anexterior shell 52. The box 22 includes an insulating material 54positioned between the interior shell 50 and the exterior shell 52. Aperipheral edge 44 of the lid 12 is larger than a perimeter edge 56 ofthe box 22 wherein the lid 12 has a peripheral portion 58 extendingoutwardly from the perimeter edge 56 of the box 22 when the lid 12 is ina closed position 60. Thus, the lid 12 resembles a table top. Anuppermost surface 62 of the insulating material 54 is planar and insetfrom respective uppermost surfaces 64,66 of the interior shell 50 andthe exterior shell 52. A lip 68 extends downwardly from the lid 12. Thelip 68 has a width complementary to a distance between the uppermostsurfaces 64,66 of the interior shell 50 and the exterior shell 52. Thelip 68 extends between the uppermost surfaces 64,66 of the interiorshell 50 and the exterior shell 52 when the lid 12 is in the closedposition 60.

The lid 12 includes a plate 70 having an outer edge 72 positioned spacedinwardly from the lip 68. The plate 70 has a shape complementary to theuppermost surface 64 of the interior shell 50 wherein the plate 70covers the open top 30 of the box 22 when the lid 12 is in the closedposition 60. Each of a plurality of beams 74 is coupled to and extendsfrom an underside 76 of the plate 70. The plurality of beams 74 includesa pair of lateral beams 74A and a front beam 74B. The lateral beams 74Aare positioned perpendicular relative to the front beam 74B. Each of theplurality of beams 74 is positioned to extend through the open top 30and into an interior space 78 of the box 22 adjacent to a respectiveside 76 of an interior surface 80 of the interior shell 50 when the lid12 is in the closed position 60.

A tether 82 has a first end 84 coupled to the interior surface 80 of theinterior shell 50 of the box 22 and a second end 86 coupled to theunderside 76 of the plate 70. The tether 82 has a length wherein thetether 82 inhibits how far the lid 12 is pivotable relative to the box22.

In use, the device 10 is structured to resemble a table or bench ofconventional design but having the box 22 for storage of items in adiscrete manner. The device 10 provides temporary storage for items suchas deliveries of groceries or goods.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

I claim:
 1. A furniture cooler combination device comprising: a lidhaving opposed lateral ends, said lid having an upper surface extendingbetween said opposed lateral ends; and a box positioned beneath saidlid, said box being insulated, said box having a bottom wall and aperipheral wall coupled to and extending up from said bottom wall, adistal edge of said peripheral wall relative to said bottom walldefining an open top of said box, an exterior surface of said peripheralwall being structured to resemble a plurality of legs and panels, eachof said panels being coupled to and extending between an associated pairof said legs, each of said legs being positioned at a respective cornerof said box such that each said leg has a pair of outside faces, eachsaid panel having an outer face inset relative an associated one of saidoutside faces of each of said associated pair of legs wherein saidexterior surface is configured to resemble furniture.
 2. The device ofclaim 1, further comprising said outer face of each said panel beingcontinuous and planar.
 3. The device of claim 1, further comprising saidlid being coupled to and pivotable relative to said box wherein said lidis positionable to selectively cover said open top of said box.
 4. Thedevice of claim 3, further comprising said lid being constructed of aninsulating material.
 5. The device of claim 1, further comprising saidupper surface of said lid being patterned to resemble a plurality ofparallel planks extending perpendicularly between said opposed lateralends of said lid.
 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising aperipheral edge of said lid being larger than a perimeter edge of saidbox wherein said lid has a peripheral portion extending outwardly fromsaid perimeter edge of said box when said lid is in a closed positionwhereby said lid resembles a table top.
 7. The device of claim 1,further comprising said box having an interior shell spaced inwardlyfrom an exterior shell, said box including an insulating material beingpositioned between said interior shell and said exterior shell.
 8. Thedevice of claim 7, further comprising: an uppermost surface of saidinsulating material being planar and inset from respective uppermostsurfaces of said interior shell and said exterior shell; and a lipextending downwardly from said top, said lip having a widthcomplementary to a distance between said uppermost surfaces of saidinterior shell and said exterior shell, said lip extending between saiduppermost surfaces of said interior shell and said exterior shell whensaid lid is in a closed position.
 9. The device of claim 8, furthercomprising said lid including a plate having an outer edge positionedspaced inwardly from said lip, said plate having a shape complementaryto an interior edge of said uppermost surface of said interior shellwherein said plate covers said open top of said box when said lid is insaid closed position.
 10. The device of claim 9, further comprising aplurality of beams, each of said beams being coupled to and extendingfrom an underside of said plate, said plurality of beams including apair of lateral beams and a front beam, said lateral beams beingpositioned perpendicular relative to said front beam, each of saidplurality of beams being positioned to extend through said open top andinto an interior space of said box adjacent to a respective side of aninterior surface of said interior shell when said lid is in the closedposition.
 11. The device of claim 9, further comprising a tether havinga first end coupled to an interior of said box and a second end coupledto an underside of said plate, said tether having a length wherein saidtether inhibits how far said lid is pivotable relative to said box. 12.A furniture cooler combination device comprising: a lid having opposedlateral ends, said lid having an upper surface extending between saidopposed lateral ends, said lid being constructed of an insulatingmaterial, said upper surface of said lid being patterned to resemble aplurality of parallel planks extending perpendicularly between saidopposed lateral ends of said lid; a box positioned beneath said lid,said box being insulated, said box having a bottom wall and a peripheralwall coupled to and extending up from said bottom wall, a distal edge ofsaid peripheral wall relative to said bottom wall defining an open topof said box, an exterior surface of said peripheral wall beingstructured to resemble a plurality of legs and panels, each of saidpanels being coupled to and extending between an associated pair of saidlegs, each of said legs being positioned at a respective corner of saidbox such that each said leg has a pair of outside faces, each said panelhaving an outer face inset relative an associated one of said outsidefaces of each of said associated pair of legs wherein said exteriorsurface is configured to resemble furniture, said outer face of eachsaid panel being continuous and planar, said lid being coupled to andpivotable relative to said box wherein said lid is positionable toselectively cover said open top of said box, said box having an interiorshell spaced inwardly from an exterior shell, said box including aninsulating material being positioned between said interior shell andsaid exterior shell; a peripheral edge of said lid being larger than aperimeter edge of said box wherein said lid has a peripheral portionextending outwardly from said perimeter edge of said box when said lidis in a closed position whereby said lid resembles a table top; anuppermost surface of said insulating material being planar and insetfrom respective uppermost surfaces of said interior shell and saidexterior shell; a lip extending downwardly from said top, said liphaving a width complementary to a distance between said uppermostsurfaces of said interior shell and said exterior shell, said lipextending between said uppermost surfaces of said interior shell andsaid exterior shell when said lid is in said closed position; said lidincluding a plate having an outer edge positioned spaced inwardly fromsaid lip, said plate having a shape complementary to an interior edge ofsaid uppermost surface of said interior shell wherein said plate coverssaid open top of said box when said lid is in said closed position; aplurality of beams, each of said beams being coupled to and extendingfrom an underside of said plate, said plurality of beams including apair of lateral beams and a front beam, said lateral beams beingpositioned perpendicular relative to said front beam, each of saidplurality of beams being positioned to extend through said open top andinto an interior space of said box adjacent to a respective side of aninterior surface of said interior shell when said lid is in the closedposition; and a tether having a first end coupled to said interiorsurface of said interior shell of said box and a second end coupled toan underside of said plate, said tether having a length wherein saidtether inhibits how far said lid is pivotable relative to said box.